Bullet Chart
A bullet chart is a compact alternative to a gauge, designed by Stephen Few, that shows a single performance measure against a target and a set of qualitative ranges (poor / satisfactory / good) in a small horizontal bar. The actual value is drawn as a thick bar, the target as a
Template details
- chart
- bullet
- kpi
- target
- d3
When to use this template
A bullet chart quickly reveals how a single key performance indicator (KPI) is tracking against a specific target and predefined qualitative benchmarks. Analysts use it to efficiently monitor numerous metrics at a glance, identifying which ones are meeting, exceeding, or falling short of their goals without needing detailed inspection.
- Single quantitative metric per chart.
- Data includes a specific target value.
- Requires 2-3 qualitative range thresholds (e.g., poor, satisfactory, good).
- Comparing performance across many distinct entities or time periods.
- Numerical values for actual, target, and range boundaries.
- Compact display of performance against goals in a grid layout.